Red Bull star handed major FIA penalty as disqualification statement issued on… read more
The FIA has handed down a significant penalty to Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda following an infraction during the third practice session (FP3) of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. The incident occurred after McLaren’s Oscar Piastri collided with the infamous Wall of Champions at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, triggering a red flag due to the debris strewn across the track.
As Piastri limped his damaged car back to the pit lane, Tsunoda came up behind him. Despite the red flag conditions, which require all drivers to slow down and refrain from overtaking, Tsunoda chose to pass the Australian driver. The Japanese racer defended his decision by claiming he was attempting to avoid potentially hazardous debris that might detach from Piastri’s compromised McLaren.
However, race stewards were not convinced by Tsunoda’s reasoning. After reviewing the footage and circumstances, the FIA determined that the Red Bull driver had breached Appendix H, Article 2.5.4.1 b) of the International Sporting Code. As a result, Tsunoda was slapped with a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race. Having already endured a frustrating qualifying session—where he was eliminated in Q2 and could only post the 11th fastest lap time—this penalty ensures he will start the race from the very back of the grid.
In addition to the grid drop, Tsunoda received two penalty points on his FIA Super Licence. This marks his first points accumulation in a 12-month period, leaving him with a total of two. While he remains well below the 12-point threshold that results in an automatic race ban, it adds pressure as the season continues.
Meanwhile, attention also turned to Tsunoda’s teammate, Max Verstappen, who finds himself in a far more precarious position. The reigning world champion currently has 11 penalty points on his Super Licence, just one short of the critical limit. Verstappen received his most recent penalty—three points—after an incident involving Mercedes driver George Russell during the previous race in Spain.
The tension between Verstappen and Russell continues to simmer, especially as the two will share the front row for the Canadian Grand Prix. Russell claimed pole position with an impressive Q3 performance in Montreal, narrowly edging out Verstappen. During his post-qualifying interview, Russell couldn’t help but poke fun at the situation, joking, “I’ve got a few more points on my licence to play with [than Verstappen]. Let’s see.”
As the race weekend progresses, the spotlight remains firmly on Red Bull. While Tsunoda’s penalty affects his ability to challenge for points, Verstappen’s tightrope walk with the FIA’s disciplinary threshold adds another layer of drama to the championship battle. With several races still ahead in the season, any additional misstep from Verstappen could result in a suspension—a potential game-changer in the title race.
